This is from Dennis McGuire, Jr.
I know it’s not in the Chicago area, but I thought it was interesting and worth sharing.
From NorthJersey.com:
The upcoming Super Bowl XLVIII stands out for several reasons, especially when it comes to public safety. With the Meadowlands’ unique geography, coordination between multiple federal, state, county, and municipal agencies will be key. It might even be the first time a Super Bowl relies mostly on a volunteer fire department. But there's another lesser-known group involved—The Meadowlands Fire Department.
Most of the surrounding towns, including East Rutherford, depend on volunteer fire departments, which is unusual for an event of this scale. However, the entire Meadowlands complex—including MetLife Stadium, the Izod Center, the racetrack, and the Quest Center—is protected by the Meadowlands Fire Department. Originally established in 1975 as the New Jersey Sports Exhibition Authority Fire Department, it has 22 state-paid firefighters stationed on Route 120 in East Rutherford. They respond to all events at the complex.
Their coverage includes major roads leading to the stadium, such as portions of Route 120, Barry’s Creek Road, and Route 3 between the stadium and arena. They also monitor the flyover bridge from Route 3 over the New Jersey Turnpike into the complex, according to Captain Kevin Meehan.
The department has a range of equipment, including a 2009 quint aerial ladder, two mini-pumpers (a 2014 Ford F-450 and a 2004 F-550), and a smaller vehicle for quick response. The small vehicle, which Meehan described as “a glorified golf cart,†carries 100 pounds of water and 10 gallons of foam, allowing it to easily navigate access points to the stadium in case of a fire.
In addition to the Meadowlands Fire Department, mutual aid agreements have been put in place with neighboring towns. East Rutherford is coordinating these efforts, along with the Meadowlands FD. On game day, East Rutherford’s firefighters will be on standby, as will those from Carlstadt and Wood-Ridge, which are slightly farther away but still accessible.
Lyndhurst Assistant Fire Chief Paul Haggerty explained that his department will provide rescue services for any automotive or transit accidents on the highways. “We’ll also be staffing our headquarters from noon to midnight to handle increased traffic from visitors,†he said. Two of Lyndhurst’s units will be deployed for the event, meaning the whole department will be activated.
Haggerty added that all surrounding towns have agreed to support the event. “If any agency needs resources, we’ll be ready. We just need to pick up the radio and head to the scene.†He mentioned that strategic units will be staged in different fire stations under a coordinated plan developed over the past year.
Interestingly, East Rutherford police and fire officials have attended the last two Super Bowls to observe how other cities manage their operations. Haggerty praised East Rutherford for its excellent planning and coordination among the various departments in the Meadowlands.
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